Khalil Zein doesn't care too much for trends. “The Khalil Zein style is big and bold,” the Lebanese celebrity stylist tells The National. “But most importantly, it's different.”
With a decorated career, Zein's work speaks for itself. He's collaborated with a long list of Arab celebrity clients, from Lebanese stars Nancy Ajram, Maya Diab and Nadine Nassib Njeim, to Iraqi singer Rahma Riad.
He is, however, partial to Lebanese pop star Haifa Wehbe who, he says, opened a lot of doors for him. “Haifa is one of the most beautiful women in the world,” he says. “We've now been working together for ages.
Zein's “go big or go home” approach to style is also his philosophy in life. “I always aim big,” he says. “I wake up every day, look in the mirror and tell myself to always step it up. I'm a fighter.”
This feisty approach has translated well on TV, too. Zein hosts the Arabic version of the reality show Say Yes to the Dress, in which he helps brides find their dream dress. The show, which aired on Starzplay in 2022, returned for a rerun on TLC this month.
Filmed at Hazar Haute Couture in Dubai, the show presents a collection of bespoke bridal dresses, catering for budgets from $615 to $14,000.
“The women featured on the show come from different backgrounds and it's fun getting to know them and their culture,” says Zein. “There are times when I get emotional on the show because the brides-to-be also tend to get emotional. They are choosing a dress for a very special day. I feel happy when a bride is happy.”
While wedding wardrobes tend to follow wider fashion trends, Zein says this should not necessarily be the case. When working with brides, he pulls out a long list of criteria to ensure he offers the best advice – asking about the venue, the theme and personal preferences.
“Some will ask to be a princess, others want to be a mermaid,” he says. “I always have to understand what the bride needs and wants on her big day.
“If I see something oversized or metallic on the runway, I don't always have to follow. Some people can't pull these pieces off. My philosophy is that people need to follow what's suitable for them, whether it's their silhouette, complexion or body type. You can't just wear what's trending.”
This philosophy applies in Zein's wider body of work too, especially working with celebrities who attend different types of events in various places. The pressure is stronger in this regard, says the stylist, because the style “can go viral” for all the wrong reasons.
“I always have to be careful when working with celebrities and really understand what they are doing or attending. Is it an indoor or outdoor venue? Are they going to a boardroom or a club? Are they going somewhere conservative? These things are very important.”
Honesty still the best policy
When we ask his secret for a successful career, Zein quips: “I'm a workaholic and I love my job – that's why I'm successful.”
Zein's business, as well as his reputation, relies on his honesty, he says. “I'm too honest and straightforward, and I sometimes lose jobs,” he says with a chuckle. “Even if you are a star or a VIP client, if I don't agree with the look, I'm not going to do it. I'm known to be like this in the industry.
“I believe if you are real and truthful about who you are and what you want, you can achieve success. Be honest, be real and be confident.”
Asked to offer a style tip to regular people who are not part of his star-studded clientele, Zein says with his trademark honesty that, for most, simplicity is key.
“Always be safe and avoid going too wild,” he says. “Choose a good accessory, whether it's a nice bag or a chic pair of shoes. It can be dangerous to mix patterns and layers, and not everyone can pull that off.”
Say Yes to The Dress Arabia airs every Wednesday at 9pm on TLC
The Laughing Apple
Yusuf/Cat Stevens
(Verve Decca Crossover)
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Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Various%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sarah%20Jessica%20Parker%2C%20Cynthia%20Nixon%2C%20Kristin%20Davis%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Scorecard:
England 458 & 119/1 (51.0 ov)
South Africa 361
England lead by 216 runs with 9 wickets remaining
Final scores
18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)
-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)
-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)
-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)
-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
Naga
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
SPECS
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
